Township of West Lebanon, PA Part 5 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE

§ 5-501 Adoption of International Fire Code.

[Ord. 465, 7/6/2010, § 1; Ord. 511, 11/5/2018; Ord. No. 547, 2/2/2026]

A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the Township Building of West Lebanon Township, being marked as the International Fire Code, 2021 edition, as published by the International Code Council, be and is adopted as the Fire Code of West Lebanon Township, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property from fire and explosion hazards arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life and property in the occupancy of buildings and premises within the Township, and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore, and repealing all other ordinances in conflict therewith; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of the Fire Code on file in the Township Building of West Lebanon Township are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this Part, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in § 5-502 of this Part.

§ 5-502 Key Lock Box Systems.

[Ord. 509, 6/4/2018[1]]

1. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

AUTOMATIC DIALER

Shall refer to a device that automatically dials and relays a prerecorded message to a central station or the Fire Department.

AUTOMATIC FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

Refers to a system or assembly of piping, valves, controls, and sprinklers, which are designed and installed to comply with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, which utilize water, foam, carbon dioxide, or other gas to automatically react to suppress fire.

CENTRAL STATION

Shall refer to an office of a private company to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling devices are transmitted and where personnel are in attendance at all times to supervise the circuits and investigate signals.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY

An elected or appointed official appointed by the Commissioners to oversee the Public Safety Department.

KEY LOCK BOX

Shall refer to a secure rapid entry system that is designed to be used by Public Safety Department personnel in the event of an emergency to gain entry into a structure by using the enclosed owner-provided key(s). This box is usually mounted on the exterior of the building in a location that is specified by the Director of Public Safety. All boxes shall be UL (Underwriters' Laboratories) certified, Knox-Box® brand, and approved by the Director of Public Safety.

PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT

Includes police, fire personnel, EMS or first responders providing service in the Township.

STANDPIPE SYSTEM

Shall refer to a wet or dry system of piping, valves, outlets and related equipment designed to provide water at specified pressures and installed exclusively for the fighting of fires.

2. Key Lock Box. Structures to be equipped with a key lock box, unless otherwise determined in writing by the Public Safety Director, shall include the following:

A. All new commercial buildings shall be equipped with a key lock box prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.

B. All existing commercial buildings to which additions, major renovations, or changes of use that require Township Zoning or Planning Board approval shall be equipped with a key lock box prior to the issuance of any necessary permits.

C. All existing commercial buildings with new occupancies by tenants shall be equipped with a key lock box prior to the issuance of a certificate of continued occupancy.

D. Each building protected by an automatic fire suppression and/or standpipe system and not manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

E. Each building protected by an automatic fire alarm system (automatic dialer, central station, external audible/visual alarm) and not manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

F. Multifamily residential structures that have restricted access through locked doors but have a common corridor for access to the living units, including but not limited to condominium buildings.

G. Schools, whether public or private.

H. Governmental structures and nursing care facilities, unless the building is staffed or open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

3. Key Lock Box Contents. The property owner, as identified in Subsection 2, is required at all times to keep a key(s) in the key lock box that will allow access to the structure. The key lock box shall contain, but not be limited to, the following items as designated by the Director of Public Safety:

A. Labeled keys to locked points of ingress and egress, whether in the interior or exterior of such buildings;

B. Labeled keys to the locked mechanical rooms;

C. Labeled keys to locked elevator rooms and controls;

D. Labeled keys to any fence or secured areas;

E. Labeled keys to areas of the building where fire alarm panels and fire protection systems are located;

F. Labeled keys to any other areas that may be required by the Fire Official;

G. A card containing the emergency contact names and phone numbers for such buildings;

H. Floor plans of the rooms within the building showing locations of shutoffs;

I. Hazardous materials information; and

J. An inventory of the keys.

4. Notification to Township. The property owner shall notify the Township when any or all of the locks or keys have been changed and shall keep the immediate area of the key lock box free and clear of any and all obstructions.

5. Registration and Installation of Key Lock Boxes. The property owner shall apply for a registration for a key lock box on forms provided by and obtained from the Township.

A. A registration is required prior to the installation of a key lock box in order to verify the proper size, mounting location and installation of said key lock box. The key lock box shall be installed at a location approved by the Director of Public Safety. No key lock box shall be installed, voluntarily or otherwise, without first obtaining the approval of the Township. The property owner shall be responsible for the cost to purchase, install, and maintain the key lock box.

6. Compliance. All existing buildings required to have a key lock box shall comply with this section from its effective date. All newly constructed buildings not yet occupied or buildings currently under construction and all buildings or businesses applying for a certificate of occupancy shall comply immediately upon passage of this section.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § 5-502, Additions, Insertions, and Changes, adopted by Ord. 465, 7/6/2010, § 2.

§ 5-503 Additions, Insertions, and Changes.

[Ord. No. 547, 2/2/2026[1]]

1. The International Fire Code of 2021 is hereby adopted with amendments as contained in the Record.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: The "Record" refers to the 2021 I-Code review of the Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council. A copy of the report is on file in the Township offices.

2. Section 101.1 shall be amended to indicate that the jurisdiction is that of West Lebanon, Lebanon County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

3. Section 112.4 shall be amended to indicate that: Any person who shall violate a provision of this Code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, or repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the code official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this Code shall be guilty of a summary offense punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former § 5-503, Savings Clause, as § 5-504.

§ 5-504 Savings Clause.

[Ord. 465, 7/6/2010, § 5]

Nothing in this Part or in the code hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing, under any act or ordinance hereby repealed; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this Part.